CONTENTS

The Russian Orthodox Church, the world's second largest Christian one,
elected Tuesday Metropolitan Kirill as its new leader. Succeeding the
first Patriarch elected since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991
Alexiy II, Kirill, 62, is seen as a modernizer. A Church official told
the state-run television that the 700-strong Local Council, made up of
senior clergy in purple and sky-blue mantles, black-cloaked monks and
laymen, opted for Kirill over his main rival conservative Metropolitan
Kliment, 59, who supervises the Church's internal management. The new
Moscow Patriarch will be enthroned on Sunday 1 February.

The Russian Press commented on the election process, underlining the
voting rights given to laymen, including several businessmen and state
officials, thus proving the prestige of the Russian Church.

Born in Leningrad, now called St Petersburg, into a priest's family,
Kirill was ordained a priest in 1969. He later served as rector of the
Leningrad seminary, regarded as one of the one most open to the West.

Before his election as patriarch, Kirill headed the Church's department
for external relations, the same role filled by Alexiy II before his
election, and one which gave him significant exposure on Russian
television.